The Strategic Director, Place will present a report (Document “X”) which provides members with an overview of the work of the Housing Standards and Empty Homes and Loans Teams undertaken in the Bradford East Area.

Recommended –

That the report be noted.

(Julie Rhodes – 01274 431163)

The Strategic Director, Place presented a report (Document “X”) which provided members with an overview of the work of the Housing Standards and Empty Homes and Loans Teams undertaken in the Bradford East Area.

It was reported that in 2018/19 the service received 648 service requests relating to housing standards in the Bradford East area, the majority of which were from the private rented sector. This was a 20% increase on the number received in 2017/18, which was higher than the increase across the whole District, which was 15%. Appendix 1 provided a breakdown of those service requests received in 2018/19 by ward.

Members were informed that the main legislation enforced by the team was the Housing Act 2004.  This legislation came into force in April 2006 and used the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) as the prescribed method of assessing a house’s condition.  Under the HHSRS officers were required to ensure that each property was assessed against 29 separate hazards.  Using the assessment tool hazards were categorised as either Category 1 or Category 2 hazards.  Details of the 29 hazards assessed using HHSRS were provided in Appendix 2.

It was reported that In 2018/19 the most frequently scored hazards in Bradford East were Fire, Electrical Hazards and Damp and Mould. This was broadly in line with the frequency of hazards across the District, except that the proportion of Electrical Hazards was higher and Excess Cold (which is one of the top three hazards District wide) was lower.

Members were informed that During 2018/19 for properties in Bradford East:

•           The Housing Standards Team served 302 notices requiring works to be undertaken.

•           Housing conditions were improved in 317 properties.

•           Housing conditions were improved in 131 properties where children aged 0 -18 years were.

•           2 prosecutions were taken for non compliance.

Members made the following comments:

·         What was classed as a high risk property?

·         What methods of prosecution were used on landlords who failed to take action?

·         How was the Service made aware of empty properties?

·         Was the focus on properties that were empty for longer than 6 months?

·         A number of properties that became long term empty posed being used for fly tipping.

·         There were hundreds of empty properties that could be looked at.

·         What type of property gave the most problems?

In response to Members comments it was reported that:

·         A property was assessed as high risk depending on its condition, length of time it had been empty, the landlord not taking action when requested and owners not engaging with the Service.

·         The methods used by officers included utilising appropriate products from the full range of options available to them to try to encourage owners to bring their homes back into use but in some cases they had to use the ultimate sanction against uncooperative owners – compulsory purchase.  Since 2010, the service had compulsorily purchased 35 properties and voluntarily acquired 39 properties. There were a further 20 cases currently on going where the Council was attempting to acquire properties, 12 of which were through compulsory purchase and 8 were through voluntary acquisition.  3 of the properties subject to compulsory purchase and 1 of the properties subject to voluntary acquisition were in the Bradford East Area.

·         The Service became aware of empty properties through various methods such as service requests from members of the public, Members, Council Tax Data; the Service used both reactive and proactive methods.

·         The Service focussed on properties that had been empty for longer than 6 months; some properties took longer to sell which were not a concern; reasons why properties were left to become long term empty could be many and varied and detailed investigations were often necessary to identify legal ownership of properties before any action could be undertaken.

·         The Service worked with Environmental Protection where properties were being used for fly tipping.

·         The Service investigated empty properties that were causing problems; not all empty properties were in a poor condition; there were lots of incentives available to get people to bring their properties back into use.

·         Terrace houses in a densely populated areas caused the most problems due to proximity of neighbours; ex local authority estates and properties that caused anti social behaviour such as fly tipping.

There was a short discussion on the actions available if owners did not pay the Council Tax on empty properties.

Resolved –

That the report be noted and a progress report be presented to the Committee in 12 months time.

Action:  Strategic Director, Place

Overview and Scrutiny Area:  Regeneration and Environment